Buying a Business in Alabama

Purchasing a business can be an beneficial investment for both individuals and companies. However, the transaction is much more complicated than an usual purchase.

Purchasing a business occasionally involves laws concerning mergers, acquisitions, negotiations or securities exchanges. These fields are governed by Alabama and Federal law.

What Parts of the Business Am I Buying?

A purchaser of a business in Fairhope gains a right called "control", which is the right to direct the business operations as they see fit. Control involves ownership of the business assets and customers, along with the company's debts. Accordingly, the party purchasing a business will want a complete picture of the financial position of the business. Through a process called "due diligence", the financials of the company are disclosed. Through due diligence, federal and Alabama guidelines are used to inform both parties, and there may be legal consequences for not following these guidelines properly. However, obedience to the process of due diligence leads to a better informed decision about purchasing the business. And afterwards, it may also help the ownership transfer to go more smoothly.

How Much Will the Business Cost?

The price of a business depends on the value of the ownership stake that is necessary to exert control, and this in turn is determined somewhat by the value of the business property and the type of business. The procedure for how the right of control can be transferred or modified is defined by particular laws in Alabama. Procedures may make buying a business more or less expensive than simply the market value of its assets.

How Can a Fairhope Attorney Help?

The laws in Alabama place many unique demands on parties seeking to purchase businesses. An attorney in Fairhope, Alabama can inform you of the particularities of your investment as it relates to local law, as well as advise you of the least costly route to acquiring control.